Roles of lncRNA in the diagnosis and prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that seriously endangers women's lives. The prognosis of breast cancer patients differs among molecular types. Compared with other subtypes, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has been a research hotspot in recent years because of its high degree of malignancy, strong invasiveness, rapid progression, easy of recurrence, distant metastasis, poor prognosis, and high mortality. Many studies have found that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plays an important role in the occurrence, proliferation, migration, recurrence, chemotherapy resistance, and other characteristics of TNBC. Some lncRNAs are expected to become biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of TNBC, and even new targets for its treatment. Based on a PubMed literature search, this review summarizes the progress in research on lncRNAs in TNBC and discusses their roles in TNBC diagnosis, prognosis, and chemotherapy with the hope of providing help for future research.

Advantages of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the localization and diagnostics of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

Sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) are the first station of lymph nodes that extend from the breast tumor to the axillary lymphatic drainage. The pathological status of these LNs can predict that of the entire axillary lymph node. Therefore, the accurate identification of SLNs is necessary for sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) to replace axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). The quality of life and prognosis of breast cancer patients are related to proper surgical treatment after the precise identification of SLNs. Some of the SLN tracers that have been identified include radioisotope, nano-carbon, indocyanine green (ICG), and methylene blue (MB). However, these tracers have certain limitations, such as pigmentation, radiation dangers, and the requirement for costly detection equipment. Ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) have good specificity and sensitivity, and thus can compensate for some shortcomings of the mentioned tracers. This technique is also being applied to SLNB in patients with breast cancer, and can even provide an initial judgment on SLN status. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has the advantages of high distinguishability, simple operation, no radiation harm, low cost, and accurate localization; therefore, it is expected to replace the traditional biopsy methods. In addition, it can significantly enhance the accuracy of SLN localization and shorten the operation time.

Diagnostic value of alcoholic liver disease (ALD)/nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) index combined with γ-glutamyl transferase in differentiating ALD and NAFLD

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to verify the reliability of the alcoholic liver disease (ALD)/nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) index (ANI) for distinguishing ALD in patients with hepatic steatosis from NAFLD, and to investigate whether ANI combined with γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) would enhance the accuracy of diagnosis in China. METHODS: A hundred thirty-nine cases of fatty liver disease (FLD) were divided into two groups of ALD and NAFLD. The ANI was calculated with an online calculator. All indicators and ANI values were analyzed using statistical methods. RESULTS: ANI was significantly higher in patients with ALD than in those with NAFLD (7.11 ± 5.77 vs. -3.09 ± 3.89, p 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: ANI can help distinguish ALD from NAFLD with high accuracy; when ANI was combined with GGT, its effectiveness improved further.

Structure and antibacterial activity of quaternized zirconium phosphates / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: The preparation and antibacterial activity of metal ionic zirconium phosphates has been systemically investigated now, but the applications are limited owing to the discoloration or the low antibacterial activity. Here we prepared new antibacterial agents of quaternized zirconium phosphates by introducing quaternary ammonium salt bactericidal agent with high-effective, broad-spectrum and low-toxic into sodium zirconium phosphate through an ion-exchange method.OBJECTIVE: To explore the component structure and antibacterial activity of quaternized zirconium phosphates.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: An in vitro observational experiment was performed at Research Laboratory of Department of Chemistry, Jinan University from June to August 2009.MATERIALS: Quaternized zirconium phosphates were prepared by introducing dodecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride into sodium zirconium phosphate through an ion-exchange method.METHODS: The mol ratios of quaternary ammonium cations to cation exchange capacity of sodium zirconium phosphate in reaction solutions were 0.25: 1,0.5: 1, 1.0: 1, and 1.5 : 1, respectively, and four kinds of quaternized zirconium phosphates containing different contents of quaternary ammonium cations (QZrP-1, QZrP-2, QZrP-3, QZrP-4) were prepared through an ion-exchange method.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The component structure and heat resistance of samples were measured by using an IR spectrometer, an elemental analyzer and a thermal analyzer, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MICs) of the samples against Escherichia coli (E. co/i) and Staphylococci aureus (S. aureus) were estimated by a tube broth method.RESULTS: Quaternized zirconium phosphates were prepared, and the quaternary ammonium cation content increased with increasing the concentration of quaternary ammonium cations in reaction solution. The mass fraction of quaternary ammonium cations of QZrP-1, QZrP-2, QZrP-3, and QZrP-4 was 3.70%, 5.00%, 6.96%, and 10.01%, respectively. The onset temperatures of the decomposition for quaternary ammonium cations in quaternized zirconium phosphates were all higher than 345 °C, and they were preferable thermal stability. The antibacterial activity was higher when the quaternary ammonium cation content of quaternized zirconium phosphates increased. For quaternized zirconium phosphates QZrP-3 containing 6.96% mass fraction of quaternary ammonium cations, showed excellent antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus.CONCLUSION: Quaternized zirconium phosphates QZrP-3 containing 6.96% mass fraction of quaternary ammonium cations,exhibited excellent thermal stability and antibacterial activity.